The Brainerd Warriors dominated the Willmar Cardinals in a Central Lakes Conference showdown, with Kyler Carlson leading the charge with an impressive performance at the plate. Carlson went 3-5 with a double, three RBIs, and two runs, sparking the Warrior offense to a 12-2 victory.
On the mound, Braxton Tautges delivered a solid performance, pitching a complete game and striking out four batters while allowing only two runs on eight hits and one walk. However, it was the Warriors’ bats that stole the show, as they racked up a total of 15 hits throughout the game.
The Warriors wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, scoring twice in the first inning and adding runs in the second, third, and fourth innings. By the fifth inning, Brainerd held a commanding 10-2 lead, and two more runs in the sixth inning sealed the victory.
Other standout performances for the Warriors included Keaton Lingenfelter going 2-4 with a triple, RBI, and two runs, Eli Tautges going 2-4 with a run and an RBI, and Eli Hoelz going 2-4 with a double and an RBI. Nate Herkenhoff and Brannon Amundson also contributed to the offensive onslaught.
With this win, Brainerd improved their conference record to 5-8 and their overall record to 5-12. Their next game is set for Monday, May 20, where they will host the St. Cloud Crush at 4 p.m. The Warriors are looking to carry this momentum into their upcoming matchups as they continue to strive for success on the diamond.